Trinity Baptist Church Pastor Joe LaGuardia and Daphne Reiley, a member of the pastoral care team at Sandy Springs Christian Church, co-authored a book, A Tapestry of Love: The Spirituality of Caregiving. (Staff Photo: Karen Rohr)

More than just a handbook for caregivers, A Tapestry of Love is a work of inspiration, hope and spiritual guidance for those who find themselves taking care of aging parents, spouses, special needs loved ones and friends.

Written by Joseph LaGuardia, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Conyers and Citizen religion columnist, and Daphne Reiley, a member of the pastoral care team at Sandy Springs Christian Church, A Tapestry of Love: The Spirituality of Caregiving was three years in the making as the authors sought to create a resource book for those they say often feel isolated and prone to exhaustion, loneliness, depression, anger and resentment.

LaGuardia, who has pastored Trinity for a decade, said the book has been well received and he hopes it will become an important tool for individuals and churches. He said he encourages pastors to form small groups at their churches to help caregivers.

Weve heard a lot of positive things about how the book is connecting with caregivers and helping them not feel so isolated, LaGuardia said. Caregivers have found in it a voice for themselves. Theyve been able to articulate the struggles and to find a way forward.

Using the Scripture found in Luke 10:38-42, which is the story of Martha and Mary and Jesus visit to their home, the writers offer a framework of spiritual guidance for caregivers starting with the books first chapter, Journey to Wholeness.

The biblical story tells how Martha is doing all the work taking care of everything and everybody while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. LaGuardia and Reiley state there is a little bit of Martha and Mary in all of us.

The Martha in us is the task-oriented caregiver, the authors write. It is the Martha in us that drones on about obligations and productivity resulting from the many tasks that lay before us, without which we would not feel very useful. The Martha in us feels that taking time to care for ourselves will lead to failure. Many caregivers already feel that they are not doing enough for their loved ones as it is

Mary exists in each one of us as well. God has placed the spirit of Mary in us to remind us that our true value comes from an identity grounded in a relationship with Jesus. Mary reminds us that we were created to be in communion with our creatorShe lets us know that we are missing the intimacy needed to refresh our spirits. The Mary in us longs to sit at Jesus feet and find a home in Gods loving embrace.

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Local pastors author book aimed at nurturing spirituality of caregivers